Getting the children of Swindon cycling!

Monthly column with Becky Cox of Swindon Cycle Campaign

During the Easter Holidays a very nervous and teary Teddy joined us at Moredon Sporting Hub for his second attempt at 'Ditching the stabilisers'.
With the help of our coaches and volunteers Teddy learned to ride a bike within an hour, he was so proud of himself! The next day, Teddy spent
two hours doing laps of the track with his family. 

Teddy has now turned five years old, and guess what he got for his birthday? His very first bike with pedals!
Every school holiday we run sessions at Moredon Sporting Hub to help children learn to cycle and improve their confidence on two wheels. As part of these days we
also run dedicated ‘Ditch the stabilisers’ sessions for SEN children and a ‘Next steps’ confidence session for those who can cycle independently but need to improve skills such as braking, bike handling, gear selection etc.
'Ditch the stabilisers' sessions are funded by Sport England, and cost just £5 per child. Children can bring their own bikes and helmets, or they can borrow them. 
The sessions are one hour long and take place on the enclosed, traffic- free cycle track at Moredon Sporting Hub. The average age of learners is six to seven years old, and we welcome children aged between four and11.
The sessions are led by experienced cycle coaches and volunteers in a group of up to 10 children, with a maximum of five children in SEN sessions. Our aim is to ensure everyone feels welcome and has fun, and even the most nervous riders are often cycling around independently before the end. 
Our next 'Ditch the stabilisers' and 'Next steps' cycling sessions are taking place on Tuesday 27 May. We’ll have plenty of sessions during the summer holidays too.
These sessions are very popular so booking early is advisable; follow Swindon Cycle Campaign on Eventbrite or Facebook to be alerted of when booking is open.
Women and girls of all ages can also join us at Moredon Sporting Hub every Tuesday between 11 and noon for support with learning to cycle and improving their confidence on two wheels. 
I’m looking to organise more dedicated learn to cycle sessions for SEN children and people aged 12 and up. If you would be interested in these please get in touch with me on: [email protected]